Sweeping device



G. W. SWIHART SWEEPING DEVICE July 7, 1959 Filed June 26, 1956 INVENTOR GLEN W .SW/HART ATTORNEY United States Patent O SWEEPING DEVICE Glen W. Swihart, Greenland, Ark.

Application June 26, 1956, Serial No. 593,924

' 1 claim. (c1. isf-.347)

This invention relates to arsweeping device for cleaning large surfaces such as oors, and it particularly relates to a device cf this type which is electrically powered Electrically-powered s'weepers, generally referred to as vacuum cleaners, are more adapted to use in ordinary private households than they are to very large floor areas such as roller skating rinks, dance halls, and the like. This is due not only to the limited area which can be covered by the ordinary type of sweeper because of its design, but only to the lack of sufficient power for effectively cleaning large areas at a time.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a power-operated sweeper which is particularly adapted to cleaning large surface areas.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a power operated sweeper for cleaning large surface areas which is simple in construction, easy to operate and easy to repair.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved sweeper, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eflicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in View, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a device embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front View, partly in section and partly in elevation of the device of Fig. l, the handle being shown broken away.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the device.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a sweeper, generally designated 10, which comprises a housing 12 of generally rectangular shape and having an open bottom 14. Connected to the lower portion of the housing in surrounding relationship to the open bottom 14, is a peripheral strip 16 which is constructed of rubber or other similar resilient material. This strip 16 extends down below the bottom opening 14 of the housing and acts to contact the oor as the sweeper moves over it. In doing so, it acts to maintain the vacuum very close to the floor surface and thus increase the eiciency.

Within the housing 12 there is provided a rotary brush 18 mounted on a shaft 20. The brush extends almost the complete length of the housing except for a center break 22. It is also so constructed and arranged on Vthe shaft that its periphery extends down to the level of the lower edge of the strip 16 so that it contacts the door simultaneously with the strip.

The shaft 20 is mounted within the housing by means of a pair of sealed roller bearings 24, one on each side of the housing. These roller bearings are shielded from dust by means of a felt packing held in place by a clamp or other means, and are mounted on the side Walls of the ICC housing by supporting brackets which have threaded bolt portions vertically slidable in vertically elongated slots 2.6 in these side walls. A nut 28 is provided to adjustably lock` the bearings in place. By this means, the shaft 20 and brush 1 8 may be vertically adjusted relative to the bottom of the housing. This is especially valuable when the brush has become worn and, therefore, fails to make effective contact with the ylloor surface being cleaned.

Preferably, the shaft 20 is a three-quarter inch diameter rod made of magnesium and channeled o n opposite portions thereof. In these channels are inserted the supporting anges of the brush 18. The brush, itself, is preferably of the metal-backed nylon bristle type.

At the center of the shaft 20, Within the space 22, there is provided a, Pulley 30. Thispulley 30 is drivinglv ,CCIP nested. as bymeans of a belt 32 te a penaartditmlarly-v arranged drive pulley 34 mounted on the vertical motor shaft 36 of an electric motor 38. The motor 38 is positioned over an opening 40 in the top of the housing. A pair of wheels or castors 42 are positioned within the housing, one adjacent each end thereof.

Also mounted on the motor shaft 36, just above the opening 40, is a suction fan 44. A duct 46 connects the fan housing 48 to a rectangular dust box 50 mounted on a platform 51 connected to said housing 12. The duct is preferably constructed of 18 ounce duck material; although any other desired form of material may be used instead.

In addition to motor 38, there are also provided two other similar type motors 52 and 54, one on each side of the motor 38. Each of these motors 52 and 54 is positioned over an opening in the top of the housing 12 similar to opening 40, and each is provided with a suction fan housing, as at 56 and S8. A suction fan, similar to fan 44, is mounted on the motor shaft of each motor 52 and 54 and is positioned within the respective fan housings 56 and 58. A duct, similar to duct 46, connects each of the fan housings 56 and 58 to the interior of the dust box 50, these ducts being indicated at 60 and 62. The motor shafts bearing the fans of motors 52 and 54 do not have a pulley such as does motor shaft 36, these other motor shafts being only for the purpose of operatively supporting their respective suction fans.

On the top Wall of the dust box 50 there are provided two spaced openings over each of which is mounted a porous bag, as at 64 and 66. These bags are pervious to air but impervious to dust particles. Therefore, the air sucked in by the fans is permitted to pass on through the porous bags while the dust and other sediment is trapped by the bags and settles within the dust box. An open end is provided at one end of the dust box to permit entrance into the box for cleaning out the accumulated dust and sediment. A releasable cover 68 closes this open end.

Electric cables 70, 72 and 74 lead from the motors 38, 52 and 54, through a sleeve 76, to a switch box 78. A switch on this switch box acts to connect or disconnect the motors to a source of electrical energy which is connected to the terminal 82 of the switch box by an electric cable 84.

A pair of brackets 86 are provided on top of housing 12, one adjacent each end. An inwardly-bent rod 88 is pivotally connected, at one end, to each of the brackets 86. Each rod has a straight upper portion 80. The portions 90 extend parallel with each other and then bend outwardly away from each other to form handles 92. The portions 90 act as the support for the switch box 78 which is formed as a clamping sleeve bent around the rod portions of the handle device. A pair of castors 94 are provided, one at each end of the dust box 50.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be i extending transversely of said housing on a shaft journaledV in two opposite sides of said housing, a pulley midway on said shaft, a suction fan and motor mounted on said housing over an opening in its top above said pulley, a belt connecting said motor to said shaft pulley for rotating said brush, an additional pair of motors and suction fans, each mounted on said housing over an additional opening in its top between said iirst motor and one of said opposite sides of said housing, a platform extending rearwardly from said housing, castor means at the rear of said platform supporting said rear of said platform, a dust collecting box mounted on said platform, a duct connecting each said motor and fan to said dust box through a side of said dust box, porous dust excluding air discharge means mounted on the top of said dust box and connected therethrough,

an operating handle pivotally mounted on the top of said housing and arranged to extend rearwardly therefrom over said dust box, and motor control means mounted on said handle connected to each of said motors.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 842,385 Cobb Jan. 29, 1907 862,053 Cobb July 30, 1907 1,324,195 Hoover Dec. 9, 1919 1,533,271 Replogle Apr. 14, 1925 2,102,645 Replogle Dec. 21, 1937 2,210,953 Replogle Aug. 13, 1940 2,266,075 Replogle Dec. 16, 1941 2,459,007 Taylor Jan. ll, 1949 2,673,366 Johnson Mar. 30, 1954 2,785,431 Pardee Mar. 19, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 497,495 Germany May 9, 1930 

